Random Thoughts...

Three songs that I can't get enough of right now -

"Songbird" by Eva Cassidy (was in one of my favorite movies, Love Actually)

"Come on Get Higher" the live cover by Sugarland

"Second Chance" by Shinedown

Listen and enjoy if you get a chance!

"Welcome to the Cool Kids' Club"

Let me tell you about last Friday. I made an appointment - no, sorry - a "personal shopping appointment" at the Apple store in Southpoint Mall in Durham. My intention was to go look at macbooks with the help of my friends - Christina, Matthew and Rick. Christina and I got there first, walked into the Apple store, and thought "holy crap". The place was packed - and when I say packed - picture Williams Sonoma about a week before Christmas. Actually, any store about a week before Christmas. It was NUTS! Then, out of the blue, a little Apple savior appeared. She asked if she could help me, so I told her I had an appointment. She asked if I was going to the "Genius Bar" (...is there something I can drink to make me smarter?)... but I was pretty sure this isn't what I needed so I said "no, I made a 'personal shopping appointment' ".

Within a minute, Apple savior #2 - Daniel - said he could help me with anything I needed. And he did. Amid the chaos, he spent the next 45 minutes talking to Christina and I alone. Other customers tried, and failed, to get his attention and ask him questions. He was having none of it. He didn't even look at anyone else other than the two of us. After giving me a rundown of 2 different macbook options, he then gave me a thorough tour of the one I was leaning towards. I was beginning to see why "Apple people" were such avid Apple fans. If the customer service alone wasn't enough to convert me, the enthusiasm of the Apple user would be.

In addition to the macbook I was looking at, there was also an offer for a free "iPod touch" with the purchase of a macbook by anyone with a student ID. I joked with Christina that she should buy one, use her student ID, and I would pay her back :) (In addition to being there for moral support, she was also tentatively Christmas shopping for a mac for Bing - shh!!!). Alas, I purchased the macbook on my own, but when Daniel went to the back to get it and came back, Matthew said "you're getting the iPod touch!!"... to which I responded, "No, I don't qualify, I'm not the student." But, lo and behold, there on top of everything was an iPod. I said to Daniel, "I don't qualify for that, I'm not the student" - to which he simply smiled, shrugged his shoulders and said "it's okay." Let me be clear - stuff like this NEVER HAPPENS TO ME. Even when I think I WOULD qualify for something like that, there's always a loophole that eventually disqualifies me somehow. And so, in the middle of the Apple store, I jumped up and down like a small child and told Daniel "I could seriously kiss you right now". Matthew turned to me and said, "Don't take this the wrong way, but welcome to the cool kids' club!"

If I wasn't before, I am officially converted to being one of the "Apple people". Now keep in mind I haven't had or really used an Apple since the "Apple 2GS" that our family had back in the 80's. I distinctly remember the most exciting game to be the mouse tutorial clicking and "squashing" bugs on a windshield. Let's just say they've come a long way. A long, long way. Any anxiety I had about spending the money on it disappeared the instant I bought it. It was one of the best shopping experiences I have ever had. If anyone else is looking to be converted, just let me know, I'm more than happy to demonstrate my new-found knowledge and love of the mac! You too can be part of the cool kids' club!